Hi, I'm new to the forum and wanted to know what was the deal with Magnavox HDD DVR remote controls.

I own a Magnavox H2080MW8 and after about a year and a half or perhaps two years, my remote control started to go out. Therefore, I had to purchase another Magnavox remote control, but I had read somewhere at this forum that it was recommended to get a remote from a later model, which I did. But anyway, about a year and a half or perhaps two years later, the new remote that I had purchased started to go bad. Also, I had started to come to this forum and look up the information about the remote that I had purchased so that I could purchase a new one, however, since I had kept the original remote from the H2080MW8, I had gotten the bright idea that maybe some of the buttons that still worked on the first remote, didn't work on the second remote, and vice versa. And that perhaps if I used both remotes, I could delay having to purchase a third remote.

Well, my little idea worked, but it was kind of a hassle having to use one remote for this, and then having to put that one down and pick up the other one to use it for something else. However, that only lasted for about two weeks or so, and now both remotes' essential "Enter" buttons are not working.(Sigh!) But I had started to come to this forum and start a thread complaining about Magnavox HDD DVR remote controls, which I am kind of doing right now, but I had read somewhere in the forum where a Phillips Universal Remote was an alternative option. But let me continue with what I was saying about the Magnavox remotes.

Therefore, what in the world is going on with Magnavox HDD DVR remote controls!? Are they kind of running a racket(for lack of a better word) where they are deliberately constructing remote controls that are very flimsy so that they will stop working after awhile so that consumers will continually have to purchase replacement remotes every year and a half to every two years? Because in all of the days of my life, I have never owned a TV or a VCR where the remote control went out me. Never! And this is the first time that I have ever owned an electronic device where the remote control went out on me.(And relatively soon after purchasing it.) Therefore, what exactly is the deal with Magnavox HDD remote controls?

But getting back to the Phillips Universal Remote, after reading the information at this forum about that item, I purchased a SRP5107 from Walmart over the weekend. Now I haven't opened it yet, however, since Magnavox makes Phillips(or is it the other way around), I would like to know how reliable these PURCs are. Are they long lasting or do they go out on you after a year and half?

I wonder if it has anything to do with how hard one pushes on the buttons?? I agree it seems like more than a few people have reported premature failure with the Magnavox remotes but then you can have power users like my father who's still on his original remote and uses the snot out of his.
Have you tried taking apart the remote and cleaning it? If I can get it apart I've had very good luck just cleaning the buttons(with iso alcohol or freon) and putting it back together. Of course I've never taken a Magnavox remote apart and it's possible the contacts could be worn or something else wrong.
I really doubt it's anything Magnavox(Funai) is purposely doing to the remotes to make them break after a period of time, if anything it's probably just that things are made to the cheapest possible design to cut costs, probably nothing sinister about it

I wonder if it has anything to do with how hard one pushes on the buttons?? I agree it seems like more than a few people have reported premature failure with the Magnavox remotes but then you can have power users like my father who's still on his original remote and uses the snot out of his.
Have you tried taking apart the remote and cleaning it? If I can get it apart I've had very good luck just cleaning the buttons(with iso alcohol or freon) and putting it back together. Of course I've never taken a Magnavox remote apart and it's possible the contacts could be worn or something else wrong.
I really doubt it's anything Magnavox(Funai) is purposely doing to the remotes to make them break after a period of time, if anything it's probably just that things are made to the cheapest possible design to cut costs, probably nothing sinister about it

Opening and cleaning one of my Magnavox remotes didn't correct the problem. See these posts:

Have you tried taking apart the remote and cleaning it? If I can get it apart I've had very good luck just cleaning the buttons(with iso alcohol or freon) and putting it back together. Of course I've never taken a Magnavox remote apart and it's possible the contacts could be worn or something else wrong.

Yes, and it was a big waste of time.

Originally Posted by jjeffI really doubt it's anything Magnavox(Funai) is purposely doing to the remotes to make them break after a period of time, if anything it's probably just that things are made to the cheapest possible design to cut costs, probably nothing sinister about it

As I've posted many times before, you can't beat a JP1 remote. Costs $3 on ebay, does every function of every device imaginable (no learning required) and lasts forever, well, 10 years at least. Oh, and if you have cable TV, you probably already have one and don't even know it.

Thanks for the clarification. JP1 "capable" is probably even better. Since there are at least 100 different models, it's hard to be more specific until someone asks for details for their specific application. You don't really even need to utilize the JP1 capabilities to control most devices. As I said, most people probably already have a JP1 remote and don't know it.

Uh-oh. I'm just now getting around to reading the User Manual for the PURC, and on page 14 on Step No. 5, it says:

Quote:

"Press and hold the button that you wish to learn on the original remote control until the red Setup light blinks twice and then goes out to confirm that learning was successful."

But there's just one problem. As I had mentioned before, both my original Magnavox remote control and my second replacement Magnavox remote control have buttons that don't work. Therefore, wouldn't that mean that my PURC can't learn from those buttons?

However, I just noticed that Amazon is out of stock right now (and prob. won't get any more), so you'll prob. have to search other sites for that model #?

But I got my last one directly from Magnavox. Don't they sell them anymore?

Also, because you didn't comment on my other post, does that mean that I am correct about the PURC not being able to learn from non-working buttons?

You can try Funai (also listed in that link I gave) but my experience with them is that they usually run out of stuff pretty early in the mfg cycle... worth a try tho.

I did comment on your post but deleted it when I realized you were talking about a remote I know nothing about. However, *generally* speaking, like in the case of the Philips SRP remote I linked to earlier, the device CODE sets more than 90% of a unit's functions, which should include the most highly used, and therefore most likely to fail, functions, so you'll *usually* need to teach only some of the less-used functions... in the case of the Philips SRP, those include TV functions like Input for specific attached devices, like your DVDR.

You can try Funai (also listed in that link I gave) but my experience with them is that they usually run out of stuff pretty early in the mdg cycle... worth a try tho.

What is a mdg cycle?

Originally Posted by wajo

I did comment on your post but deleted it when I realized you were talking about a remote I know nothing about. However, *generally* speaking, like in the case of the Philips SRP remote I linked to earlier, the device CODE sets more than 90% of a unit's functions, which should include the most highly used, and therefore most likely to fail, functions, so you'll *usually* need to teach only some of the less-used functions... in the case of the Philips SRP, those include TV functions like Input for specific attached devices, like your DVDR.

I'm sorry, but a PURC is my acronym for Phillips Universal Remote Control. lol I thought that I had explained that in one of my posts. lol

However, if the PURC already has 90% of Magnavox remote control functions, then I might be alright with it. Besides, it's better than having to pay $25 to $35 for a the Magnavox NC003UD.

Also, is the Funai NB820UD remote the same as the one that originally came with the 2080 model?

The NB820UD remote was the OEM model for 2160, 2160A and 513. The NC003UD is the OEM remote for the 515, 533, 535, 537.

The 2080 remote is NB504UD.

Well, do you know if the NB820UD and the NC003UD will work with the 2080 unit?

The reason why I ask is because both remotes along with the NB504UD are only $17.99 at amazon right now. And I might get one of those and keep the PURC in case the two Mag remotes that I have don't have working buttons that I want the PURC to learn.

The NB820UD remote was the OEM model for 2160, 2160A and 513. The NC003UD is the OEM remote for the 515, 533, 535, 537.

The 2080 remote is NB504UD.

Well, do you know if the NB820UD and the NC003UD will work with the 2080 unit?

The reason why I ask is because both remotes along with the NB504UD are only $17.99 at amazon right now. And I might get one of those and keep the PURC in case the two Mag remotes that I have don't have working buttons that I want the PURC to learn.

Yes, the NB820UD and NC003UD both work for any Mag HDD model.

I'm surprised you found the NC003UD at Amazon. I checked my help-file link to Amazon for the NC003UD and it says out of stock and don't know if or when they'll get anymore, so I switched that link to Ebay, which has ~15 units now. Can you provide the Amazon link you used?

I'm surprised you found the NC003UD at Amazon. I checked my help-file link to Amazon for the NC003UD and it says out of stock and don't know if or when they'll get anymore, so I switched that link to Ebay, which has ~15 units now. Can you provide the Amazon link you used?

No, you're right. The NC003UD is not available at Amazon. But what I meant was the NB820UD(which is actually $19.99) and the NB884UD(which is $17.99). However, the NB884UD is a remote for a Mag DVD/VCR combo.

P.S. Also, I think that I'm going through so many model numbers that my head is starting to spin.

I'm probably not going to update that link every time an eBay auction ends. But my wiki link lists at least 100 JP1 remote models, some of which are still $3 on eBay, do every possible function without learning, thus don't require a working remote to begin with. It's still the best option for a cheap replacement of any remote.

Thank you mdavej for your assistance! After dealing with it for about 6 months, I finally have my replay button back on a remote for my DVR. Now I can finally consolidate all my remotes except for the DISH UHF remote. Well worth the $12 spent.